Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Located in the heart of Preston in a beautiful Grade I listed building, the Harris Museum & Art Gallery hosts a huge range of free exhibitions as well as events and activities for all ages.

Venue Type:

Museum, Gallery

Opening hours

Open Mon 11.00 - 17.00Tues - Sat 10.00 - 17.00

Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays

Admission charges

Free admission to all exhibitions. Small charge for special events and activities.

Getting there

How to get here by car:Follow M6 to Junction 31 (signposted Preston)Follow signs for A59 PrestonContinue up a steep hill (Brockholes Brow)At small roundabout carry straight on towards city centre (New Hall Lane)Continue until you reach a T-junction at traffic lights (opposite Sainsbury's Homebase) and turn right.Carry straight on through a Pelican crossing and another major set of traffic lights.Get in the left hand lane and turn left for Bus Station car park down Percy Street. The entrance to the car park is up a ramp about 3/4 of the way down this road. You are close to the ramp entrance when you see the ramp going over the road in front you.If you miss the left turn onto Percy Street there is another one for the same car park at the next set of traffic lights (by the Holiday Inn).Turn left at the lights and second left up the ramp into car park.Car park is pay and display.

From car park on foot:Follow signs to Guild Hall/City Centre.You will go down an escalator (or use lift)At the bottom of the escalator turn 180 degrees and proceed through the Guild Hall shopping arcade (past a news kiosk under the escalator).When you reach the Guild Hall exit, you will see the back of the Harris Museum directly in front of you. There are entrances on the right and left hand sides of the building on Harris Street and Jacson Street. When inside, you will find the Museum Office on the first floor. A lift is available.

How to get here from the railway station:There are regular trains to Preston from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, East Lancashire and Lancaster etc.The Harris is a ten minute walk from the station.Leave the station at the main exit (next to ticket office) and walk up the concourse.Turn right onto Fishergate.Carry on straight ahead, crossing Butler Street on your right at the traffic lights.Continue straight along Fishergate past the shops (Woolworth’s, HMV, M&S etc.) until you reach Boots on the right hand side.Turn left on to the Market Square and the Harris is straight opposite you.

Additional info

Get involved:For young people - why not join Young Harris, our monthly meeting for young people interested in the arts or take part in the Arts Award?Friends of the Harris - for only £15 membership per year, Friends enjoy exclusive events, trips and discounts in the shop/cafe and at special Harris events. See our website for more details.

There are three main collection areas - fine art, decorative art and history.

The Fine Art collection includes 18th, 19th and 20th Century oil paintings, watercolours, prints and sculpture, with strong focus on contemporary work including photography and digital art. The Harris has a large collection of portrait and landscape paintings by the Preston-based Devis family of artists. Permanent fine art gallery (redisplayed approximately every 3 years) and features in the changing exhibitions programme.

The Decorative Art collection includes ceramics, glass, costume and textiles. The UK's largest collection of glass perfume bottles collected by Mrs French - the majority is on permanent display in cases and accessible drawers. Permanent Ceramics and Glass gallery completed 2008 and changing exhibitions of costume and textiles.

History collections including speciailist collections on the local and social history of Preston including objects and ephemera including items relating to the unique Preston Guild held every 20 years. A large local photography collection including portraits, family albums and views of Preston and events. Wider historical material includes archaeology collections both local and ancient civilizations, numismatics, greetings cards, dolls, toys and cigarette cards. Permanent Discover Preston gallery opened 2012 and Discover Room featuring Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Toys, Money and changing displays on Preston's history and community history.

The Egyptian balcony - Murals of scenes of Ancient Egyptian sites by John Somerscales

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Harris Open

27 November 2016 — 7 January 2017 *on now

Artists at all levels of skill and experience are invited to submit one or two of their most recent works to go on display, with children welcome to take part too. This year all of the works entered will go on display and many items will be on sale, giving visitors a unique opportunity to purchase a very special gift for friends and family. This year the Harris is particularly keen to see artists using a wider range of 'art mediums'. From sculpture to paint, 3D work to ceramics, embroidery to photography and film - at the Harris Open anything goes!

Suitable for

Website

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Face to face resources

Ancient Greeks

Hold a piece of Greek history in your hands, think like an archaeologist and translate Greek writing. This session uses objects and the museum's impressive architecture to bring this fascinating period to life.

How to obtain

Animal Safari

Dress for a safari with pith helemts and and carrying magnifying glasses, children will explore the collections and discover animals big and small. £2.50 per child; accompanying adults free. Reception: 1h30mEarly Years settings with pre-school children: 1h

How to obtain

Arty Explorers

Use our activity bags on a self-guided visit with children from early years settings. Investigate paintings by dressing up, making felt pictures, having a tea party and finding a home for the missing farmyard animals.

How to obtain

Call our Education Team on 01772 905405 Monday - Friday, or email harris.museum@preston.gov.uk to book your gallery slot and resrve the activity bags.

Face to face resources

Can Buildings Speak?

What is the Harris Museum & Art Gallery saying? Look at the outside of the building to discover what it wants to tell us before exploring its interior and recording patterns using pencils, cameras and other media.

How to obtain

Cottoning On - the rise and fall of Preston's cotton industry

Card cotton, weave on looms, study maps and hold objects to find out how the cotton trad changed Preston and what life was like for children working in the mills. In partnership with Lancashire Libraries Service.

How to obtain

Design a Museum

Are you designing a museum? Are you unsure where to begin? Why not head to the Harris Museum & Art Gallery where you can invent engaging labels for your collection and, for KS2, persuage people to visit. Using object handling and National Literacy Trust 'talk for writing' techniques. The Harris’ creative literacy sessions are designed to inspire a wider scheme of literacy and cross-curricular work. Some offer an additional, optional follow-up session back in school. They have created as part of the Preston Museums & Schools Partnership.

How to obtain

Doctor Harris What and the Museum/Art Gallery of the Future

Let the Harris Museum & Art Gallery visit your school to enthuse children about art and the past. Doctor What needs help! The Doctor has travelled back in time to collect interesting objects from 2010/11 because the museums and art galleries of the future are devoid of collections from our time and people in the future don't know much about us. Can the children suggest or create some important pieces and save the day?

How to obtain

Every Picture Tells a Story - Portraying Relationships

Uncover the stories within paintings by examining gestures and symbols, bring the characters and scenes to life through role-play, then place yourself and a partner in a picture with clues to tell your story.

Publisher

Follow the Yarn - The Story of Cotton in Preston

Educational website about the cotton industry in Preston. The site includes specific information and activities about the Horrockses cotton spinners and manufacturers who were founded in Preston by John Horrocks in 1791. Visitors can also weave their own design on a virtual loom or write a newspaper article on a significant event in the town's history. Suitable for key stage 24 pupils studying history and geography.

Creator

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

ACTIS Limited

How to obtain

Also accessible via www.cleo.net.uk in history resources.

Face to face resources

Greek Myths

Heroes wanted: are you up to the challenge? As you travel around the museum you will create mythical beasts, discover pots with magic powers, and earn your reward of Ancient Greek coins.
Optional follow-up: You've come so far but can you slay the beast? Using drama and movement you will conclude the myth back in the classroom.
The Harris’ creative literacy sessions are designed to inspire a wider scheme of literacy and cross-curricular work. Some offer an additional, optional follow-up session back in school. They have created as part of the Preston Museums & Schools Partnership.

History at the Harris CD-ROM

This CD-Rom includes schemes of work, printable worksheets, guidance for bringing a group to the museum, and lots of images to help you teach Toys (QCA Unit 1), Homes (QCA Unit 2), and What was it like to live here (Preston) in the past? (QCA Unit 18).

How to obtain

The CD is available to buy from the museum’s Education Department, priced £10.00. Please telephone 01772 905405.

Face to face resources

Horace's Big Dig for Little Kids

Meet Horace, our 12,000 year old elk, and put his bones back together. See the things people have left behind and hold intriguing pots, coins and tools that have been found in the ground.Reception: 1h30mEarly Years settings with pre-school children: 1h

How to obtain

I'm an object, get me out of storage!

Let the Harris Museum & Art Gallery visit your school to enthuse children about art and the past.The children will take on the role of curators in a game show designed to get them thinking about which objects should be on display and why.

How to obtain

Investigating Pattern

Create patterned textiles using our collections as inspiration. Learn about different techniques used to crate fabrics before making your own unique design. A great way to creatively re-inforce work on symmetry and shape.

How to obtain

Lowry's Millworkers

Walk through the painting, hold objects workers used in the mills and find the words to develop a poem woven with understanding and description. Optional follow-up - Learn drawing techniques to enable you to present your poetry on your own Lowry inspired artwork.The Harris’ creative literacy sessions are designed to inspire a wider scheme of literacy and cross-curricular work. Some offer an additional, optional follow-up session back in school. They have created as part of the Preston Museums & Schools Partnership.

How to obtain

Call our Education Team on 01772 905405 Monday - Friday, or email harris.museum@preston.gov.uk. 2 hours; £2.50 per child; accompanying adults free. Or discounted rate of £4.00 per children including museum visit and follow-up session in school.

Face to face resources

Moving Pictures

Let the Harris Museum & Art Gallery visit your school to enthuse children about art and the past.Inspired by images from the Harris' Fine Art collection, the children will bring them to life with soud and drama and discover the stories within the paintings.

How to obtain

Objects and Meanings

Behind every still-life is a wealth of thought about what to include, where to place the objects and the colours to use. Handle some of the objects represented in our paintings and design your own composition for a still-life to commemorate your visit.

How to obtain

Ourselves/Portraits

Explore the Fine Art Gallery for paintings of people. Copy their expressions, find clues in their clothing and strike a pose to inspire the children to create their own self-portrait.
Reception: 1h30m
Early Years settings with pre-school children: 1h

How to obtain

Preston Dock - a local study

When was the dock built? What are dredgers and why were they so important? And what (or who) was unearthed from the river bed? Using a range of source materials pupils will find out how the dock changed Preston, what it was like to work in the port and what led to its closure. Inpartnership with Lancashire Libraries Service.

Preston: Past and Present

Explore the City of Preston in Lancashire, now and in the past - good Victorian images.

Publisher

This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Face to face resources

Self Portraits

What can we learn about people from their portraits? Investigate a selection of our portraits, copy their expressions, find clues in their clothing and strike a post before children create their own self-portrait.

How to obtain

Sudden Rising of the Nile

The river is flooding! How would it feel to flee your home, taking only the belongings you can carry? Investigate issues and emotions rised by our painting 'The Sudden Rising of the Nile' through role-play and drama techniques, leading to a diary recount. The Harris’ creative literacy sessions are designed to inspire a wider scheme of literacy and cross-curricular work. Some offer an additional, optional follow-up session back in school. They have created as part of the Preston Museums & Schools Partnership.

How to obtain

The Preston Lock-Out

Using role-play, sources and speech-making, pupils become different groups of people involved in the 1853 Preston Lock-Out. They will begin to understand why cotton workers were locked out of the millsand realise that historical events appear different from alternative points of view before voting for their preferred resolution. Available until 5 November 2010.

How to obtain

Call our Education Team on 01772 905405 Monday - Friday, or email harris.museum@preston.gov.uk. Available until 5 November 2010.

Face to face resources

Toys

Sort out the old toys from the new, explore how they were used through play and then make your own toy to round off this enjoyable session.Reception: 1h30mEarly Years settings with pre-school children: 1h

How to obtain

Victorian Childhood

Discover how the lives of children in Victorian times different from today through objects, photographs and maps. Learn about work and play, and how changes in Preston affected the lives of local children. Pick two of the following options: Work & Insustry, Transport, Toys & Leisure, and Household.

Victorian School and Work in Preston

Most Victorians had a very different attitude towards child labour than we do today. Sending young children out to work was an economic necessity for most families. This resource has worksheets about school and work life for children in Victorian times, inspired by original archive documents.

Publisher

This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Victorian Transport in Preston

Looking at photographs to discover different types of transport in Victorian times - worksheet with classroom question ideas

Publisher

This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Face to face resources

Welcome to the Harris

What are museums for and where did all those objects come from? Discover thr answers to these questions by handling objects, writing labels and explorig the different ways museums tell visitors about their collections.

How to obtain

Getting there

How to get here by car:Follow M6 to Junction 31 (signposted Preston)Follow signs for A59 PrestonContinue up a steep hill (Brockholes Brow)At small roundabout carry straight on towards city centre (New Hall Lane)Continue until you reach a T-junction at traffic lights (opposite Sainsbury's Homebase) and turn right.Carry straight on through a Pelican crossing and another major set of traffic lights.Get in the left hand lane and turn left for Bus Station car park down Percy Street. The entrance to the car park is up a ramp about 3/4 of the way down this road. You are close to the ramp entrance when you see the ramp going over the road in front you.If you miss the left turn onto Percy Street there is another one for the same car park at the next set of traffic lights (by the Holiday Inn).Turn left at the lights and second left up the ramp into car park.Car park is pay and display.

From car park on foot:Follow signs to Guild Hall/City Centre.You will go down an escalator (or use lift)At the bottom of the escalator turn 180 degrees and proceed through the Guild Hall shopping arcade (past a news kiosk under the escalator).When you reach the Guild Hall exit, you will see the back of the Harris Museum directly in front of you. There are entrances on the right and left hand sides of the building on Harris Street and Jacson Street. When inside, you will find the Museum Office on the first floor. A lift is available.

How to get here from the railway station:There are regular trains to Preston from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, East Lancashire and Lancaster etc.The Harris is a ten minute walk from the station.Leave the station at the main exit (next to ticket office) and walk up the concourse.Turn right onto Fishergate.Carry on straight ahead, crossing Butler Street on your right at the traffic lights.Continue straight along Fishergate past the shops (Woolworth’s, HMV, M&S etc.) until you reach Boots on the right hand side.Turn left on to the Market Square and the Harris is straight opposite you.

Website

Harris Museum and Art Gallery information

Cotton History website

E-mail

Enquiries

Telephone

Museum Office

01772 258248

Event bookings (when museum is open)

01772 905414

Fax

Office fax

01772 886764

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.